2002 Corvette Z06 what oil to use?

[RateNate]

Hello everyone I am looking and wondering what oil I should run in this vette? I read older threads but alas they are dated and now we have new oil formulations so that means different specs. I do like Pennzoil Ultra Platium 5w30 or Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 but I am afraid the PUP may shear to a 5w20 in this engine. I don't plan on tracking the car so I wont be going to the ×w40 route unless I should or if it burns oil like crazy. Please let me know what you recommend thank you very much!!!

 

[bbhero]

Any new Dexos approved 5w30 would certainly be just fine in this car. Being the fact you are not tracking the car a 30 operating grade viscosity would be just fine.

Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 could be another possibility here... A higher HTHS near 3.5 and this oil meets very tough specs like Porsche C30 and MB 229.5 and I believe BMW LL-01.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Maybe a "thick" 10W30?

 

[RateNate]

Thank you for the replies! I dont know the PO history much... it has 100k on it and it was left in a yard. Once I get it on the road I will see if it burns any oil and thay whole process.
@bbhero is that Mobil 1 ESP safe to run in these? Is there any issues using an oil that also works for diesel engines?
@aquariuscsm With the 10w30 I may go to that if it burns crazy oil or if the 5w30 does shear. I would prefer to stick in a 5w or 0w range because winters approaching in nor cal, and the weather is unpredictable this year.

 

[dmac_73]

Rotella Gas Truck is a thicker 30wt compared to Pup. Just put some in my 95' Cobra.

I believe it has around an 11.7 cst viscosity @ 100c. You could use it with confidence in your Vette.

In the summer time i wouldn't hesitate to use a thin 40wt. Mobil 1 0w40 is packed with the good stuff.

Dmac

 

[ZeeOSix]

Use an oil that meets the GM oil spec for that engine, which is GM4718M.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Here's the Owner's Manual if you don't have one.

 

[RateNate]

Use an oil that meets the GM oil spec for that engine, which is GM4718M.

Wouldnt that count as most oils today? Like any dexos rated oils since chevy recommends those.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Wouldnt that count as most oils today? Like any dexos rated oils since chevy recommends those.

Yep, pretty much any good 5w30 will have the GM rating " GM4718M". I ran Mobil 1 5w30 in mine and seemed fine. I'd run any good full synthetic 5w30 meeting the GM spec.

 

[zfasts03]

Fun car! Biggest problem with this car in the cold is the summer tires.

Engine can use any 5w30 Dexos 1.

 

[RooflessVW]

15W-50.

Get down with the thickness!

 

[bbhero]

Thank you for the replies! I dont know the PO history much... it has 100k on it and it was left in a yard. Once I get it on the road I will see if it burns any oil and thay whole process.
@bbhero is that Mobil 1 ESP safe to run in these? Is there any issues using an oil that also works for diesel engines?
@aquariuscsm With the 10w30 I may go to that if it burns crazy oil or if the 5w30 does shear. I would prefer to stick in a 5w or 0w range because winters approaching in nor cal, and the weather is unpredictable this year.

Only mild concern would be running the oil a lot of number of miles... Not quite the same tbn retention. Though I believe that was a issue related to higher sulfur gasoline we did have here in the US. Now that we have lower sulfur gasoline that should actually mitigate that a fair amount better now. If it were me... I'd run it 4-5k miles and do a used oil analysis.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Any dexos oil will be fine in your Z06. Napa Synthetic (Valvoline) is on sale this month for $3.19/qt and is d1g2 licensed.

Another good choice is Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5w30. It is dexos2. Valvoline MST 5w30 is another good dexos2 oil.

Rotella T6 5w30 is great stuff but is more expensive and never goes on sale.

is that Mobil 1 ESP safe to run in these? Is there any issues using an oil that also works for diesel engines?

GM now calls for some form of Mobil 1 ESP in the C8, and they say it is backwards compatible for all Corvettes. The Corvette-spec Mobil 1 ESP 0w40 is dexos2.

Use an oil that meets the GM oil spec for that engine, which is GM4718M.

4718M has been superseded by dexos1, which in turn was superseded by d1g2. Remember that d1g2 is NOT the same as dexos2, but GM switched to the latter for the Corvette effective with the C8 (but allows it in all Corvettes).

 

[2EHA]

on today’s episode of “Mobil 1 0W40 is the greatest oil ever made” we visit yet another passenger automobile that this high performance motor oil is best suited for

 

[RateNate]

So based on your responses running any 5w30 seems to be fine. I may be leaning towards Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 and doing a used oil analysis. I may even try the PUP or Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 but if I do I will definitely be running a used oil analysis and looking if it sheared down. Or the Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 too since it backspecs for older vettes, ah decisions decisions. Seems like I may lean towards M1 this time. Let me know what used oil analysis company I should use.

 

[RateNate]

Only mild concern would be running the oil a lot of number of miles... Not quite the same tbn retention. Though I believe that was a issue related to higher sulfur gasoline we did have here in the US. Now that we have lower sulfur gasoline that should actually mitigate that a fair amount better now. If it were me... I'd run it 4-5k miles and do a used oil analysis.

I plan on using costco 91 here in norcal mostly.

 

[ammolab]

I agree any quality 5w30 Synthetic would do...but I would run the ESP Mobil 1 0W-40 the new Vettes run just “because”...it’s a ZO6 for goodness sake!

I would run that oil in my LS3 Chevy sedan as that was a Corvette engine a bit back, but it is pretty pricey oil.

 

[RateNate]

on today’s episode of “Mobil 1 0W40 is the greatest oil ever made” we visit yet another passenger automobile that this high performance motor oil is best suited for

Not tracking it so theres no real use, even during summer it wont be as harsh like a track day. Vette forums recommend 5w30 for the daily too. But if I do need a 40w then this mobils on the list or the pup 40w

 

[FordMan59]

Thank you for the replies! I dont know the PO history much... it has 100k on it and it was left in a yard. Once I get it on the road I will see if it burns any oil and thay whole process.
@bbhero is that Mobil 1 ESP safe to run in these? Is there any issues using an oil that also works for diesel engines?
@aquariuscsm With the 10w30 I may go to that if it burns crazy oil or if the 5w30 does shear. I would prefer to stick in a 5w or 0w range because winters approaching in nor cal, and the weather is unpredictable this year.

Running 10w30 or 10w40 would be fine during the winter in No. Cal. I live in south central KY where we sometimes see temperatures as low as -10--15F. Not often we see it get that cold but once in awhile. I run 10w40 year round and have for about 45 years and my dad did for years before that with never a problem. I'm using 10w40 in my '16 Nissan Versa, '02 Escort and '97 Escort. I'm not trying to convince you to use a 10w but, it's certainly safe to do so. Actually, when my dad first bought a new '68 Mercury Montego the dealership where he bought it sold Motorcraft 20w40 and I think he used it when he first bought the car, probably during the warranty period which I think was 1yr/12K. He sold the Mercury years later after I got my own car. It had 168K miles on the clock and if I recall correctly it didn't use more than 1/2 quart between changes if that. The Montego is the car I learned how to drive in (1975) and after I got my license it basically became the car I used because dad had bought a new car in '74. You can bet your butt after I got my license it didn't get babied. If dad had known some of the things I did in that car he'd have took my keys and license. I don't recall ever adding any oil to it but that has been years ago and my memory isn't what it used to be. Yes, I know I was only 16 but, I kept the oil and other fluids checked/changed. I knew if something happened to that car and it was my fault I wouldn't have anything to drive until I was able to get my own.

 

[bbhero]

I plan on using costco 91 here in norcal mostly.

Yeah it should be just fine... The transition to low sulfur gasoline here happened awhile ago.

And like slacktide said the older gm spec was superceded by Dexos.... Thus why I mentioned a dexos approval oil was good to go too.